A man has admitted to being guilty in the deadly shooting of an off-duty police officer from New Orleans and his friend at a Houston restaurant in 2021, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Frederick Jackson, 22, from San Antonio, accepted a plea deal where he pleaded guilty to two counts of murder. This agreement comes with a sentence of 60 years in prison, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
The victims, New Orleans police Detective Everett Briscoe, 41, and Dyrin “DJ” Riculfy, 43, were having dinner on a restaurant patio on August 21, 2021, when two individuals in hoodies approached them in an attempted robbery that turned into a shooting, police reported. Although the suspects fled initially, they were later apprehended.
Briscoe, who served with the New Orleans police for 13 years, was declared dead at the scene. Riculfy passed away ten days later in a Houston hospital.
Both Briscoe and Riculfy were members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club and were traveling with fellow club members at the time of the incident.
Frederick Jackson (Via City of Houston)
Jackson entered his guilty plea in a Houston court on Tuesday, just before his scheduled trial this week.
“This was a tragic incident involving a highly experienced police officer from a major city who was simply enjoying time off with friends on vacation,” Ogg stated. “It’s a terrible loss and serves as a reminder that anyone, anywhere can fall victim to violent crime.”
Under the terms of his plea deal, Jackson will need to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before he can be considered for parole. His formal sentencing is scheduled for Monday.
Two other suspects, Anthony Rayshard Jenkins, 24, and Khalil Nelson, 21, are still awaiting trial in connection with the shooting and remain in custody.
